Evo Stik Division One North
Tadcaster Albion 0-1 Ramsbottom United
Josh Grant (right) in action during the Evo-Stik Division One North match between Tadcaster Albion and Ramsbottom United. Picture: Matthew Appleby
A late penalty from Lee Gaskell saw Ramsbottom take all three points after Tadcaster Albion missed a number of gilt edged chances.
With Billy Miller unavailable, Assistant Manager Matt Heath was forced into making just the one change to the side that drew at Colwyn Bay with Fatlum Ibrahimi coming in for Jono Greening who is away.
Both teams had a week off last week due to the wintery weather hampering many games across the country.
It was the visitors who carved out the first chance of the match, Ryan Salmon getting up brilliantly only to glance wide of the goal from seven yards out.
The Brewers responded well however with Rob Youhill storming beyond his man down the right flank and delivering low to Tom Corner but the number nine saw his snap shot well blocked.
Josh Barrett and Josh Grant were performing well at the back for Taddy, Barrett alert to brilliantly deny Mason a clear route through to goal. Grant at left-back refused to be beaten down his side and also offered a threat going forward.
Taddy’s only real chance of the first half came two minutes from the break as Josh Greening stuck out a foot and deflected Corner’s skewed effort off target.
The Brewers came out fighting in the second 45 minutes and took the game to Rammy by pushing and pressing higher up the pitch.
Rob Youhill is always capable of beating his man and delivering a mean ball but he can only do so much. Ten minutes into the half Youhill jinked past his man before fizzing a terrific ball across the face of goal but no yellow shirt was on-hand to tap into the empty net.
Albion were slowly going through the gears and it seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead with the fans encouraged.
Josh Greening and Corner both misfired half decent opportunities wide of the goal before the latter missed the best chance of the match.
Conor Sellars threaded Josh Greening in down the left, he reversed it backwards into the path of Corner who poked agonisingly wide from close range.
But it was Ramsbottom who scored the only goal of the game eleven minutes from time. Gregg Anderson’s mistimed tackle on the effervescent Darryll Mason left referee Simon Porter with no option but to point to the spot.
Lee Gaskel stepped up and struck well to his left, Chandler Hallwood got a hand to it but not enough to keep it out.
Ramsbottom had to endure an onslaught in the last ten minutes with Taddy throwing everything at their opponents.
The final chance fell to Dan Thirkell when a deep free-kick dropped to the midfielder at the back post but Martin Fearson in the Rammy goal did well to narrow the angle and thwart the danger.
The Team
Tadcaster Albion: Hallwood, Armstrong, Grant, Barrett, Anderson (captain), Ibrahimi (Stewart 68), Youhill (Shepherd 83), Thirkell, Corner, Josh Greening, Sellars. Subs unused: Hansen, Jeridi.